How to structure a 16-mark answer in A-level Psychology

AQA A-level Psychology 7182

20 minutes, 6 paragraphs

AO1 Knowledge about 70 words
Accurate, detailed knowledge selected for this question
- Name the theory, study or concept precisely.
- Set out how it works, step by step, with the key terms.
- Add the detail that shows exact knowledge: a named study's procedure or findings, a mechanism, an example.
AO1 Knowledge about 70 words
The same frame, with a different point.
AO3 Evaluation about 80 words
One developed evaluative point: point, evidence, why it matters, link
- Make the point: a strength or a limitation of this theory, study or treatment.
- Give the evidence: a named study and what it found, or a precise methodological reason.
- Explain why it matters: what it shows about the theory itself, not about research in general.
- Link back: so how far does this support or weaken the claim in the question?
AO3 Evaluation about 80 words
The same frame, with a different point.
AO3 Evaluation about 80 words
The same frame, with a different point.
AO3 Judgement about 30 words
A reasoned conclusion that answers the question
- Weigh the points: which is strongest, and why?
- Answer the question: how far, how well, or under what conditions.

20 minutes at AQA's rate of 120 minutes for 96 marks: about 3 to plan and 17 to write.
Word counts are a guide to balance, not a rule. Examiners judge the whole answer against the levels; a longer answer is not a better one.
A few developed evaluation points beat many listed ones. Skip a general introduction; start with the psychology.

AQA’s level bands for a 16-mark answer
Level	Marks
Level 4	13 to 16
Level 3	9 to 12
Level 2	5 to 8
Level 1	1 to 4

Self-check a draft

My knowledge is accurate and specific: the key terms, and a named study, mechanism or example where it helps. AO1
I chose the knowledge this question needs, not everything I know about the topic. AO1
Each evaluation point is developed: the point, the evidence, and why it matters for this theory or study. AO3
My evaluation is about this theory or study, not a criticism that would fit any research. AO3
I end with a judgement that answers the question. AO3
I started with the psychology, not a general introduction.
I planned first and kept to the time the marks are worth.

Tick what your draft already does; the first gap to fix appears here.

Questions people ask

How many AO3 points do you need in a 16-marker?

There is no fixed number. With 10 AO3 marks (a 6/0/10 question), three or four well-developed points usually fit the time better than six listed ones. Examiners reward how developed and relevant the evaluation is, not how many points there are.

How long should a 16-mark answer be?

It is worth about 20 minutes: 120 minutes for 96 marks is 1.25 minutes a mark. In that time many students write around 400 words, but length alone earns nothing.

What does 6/4/6 mean?

Six marks for knowledge (AO1), four for applying it to the scenario in the question (AO2) and six for evaluation (AO3). If a question gives you a scenario, the application marks need its details used and explained, not copied.

Is AQA's marking based on paragraphs?

No. AQA marks extended answers by level, as a best fit to the whole answer. A plan helps you balance your time, but examiners do not count paragraphs.

How we work this out

What it does

Choose the question type and its AO split, and get the minutes it is worth, a paragraph plan with sentence frames, and a self-check for your draft.

Extended answers in AQA A-level Psychology 7182 marked by level: 4, 6, 8, 12 and 16 marks, with any AO split that adds up (a 16-mark answer carries at most 6 AO1 marks). The presets are the splits in AQA's public sample schemes: 6/0/10 and 6/4/6 for 16 marks, 3/0/5 for 8.

Method

Time: AQA's papers give 120 minutes for 96 marks, 1.25 minutes a mark, so a 16-mark answer is worth 20 minutes. A few minutes of that go on planning.
Words: about 25 written words a minute after planning, as a guide to how much a full answer usually runs to.
Paragraphs follow the AO split: knowledge paragraphs for AO1, a paragraph for each couple of AO2 marks, and a developed evaluation paragraph for about every three AO3 marks, plus a closing judgement when evaluation is asked for.
Each paragraph comes with sentence frames: for evaluation, the point, the evidence, why it matters for this theory, and a link back to the question.
The self-check lists the features AQA's level descriptors reward for your split. Ticking them tells you what to strengthen next; it never gives a mark.